Every day I am in awe of us all. Every lady who has had bc "gows" so much. It is a terrible disease that has taken many of my friends and aquintences but oh the transformation of these brave women is just "out of this world". Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that my life would have included bc - what a journey!!!!! I am grateful for every day and look forward to many more. We are all so STRONG . XLeonie
Hi Roxanne, Like my "twin" Tonya, I had a lumpectomy back in 2006, had radiation and took Tamoxifen. Then in 2010 a tumour was found in my axilla which they called a secondary. I had another lumpetomy, radiation and chemo and now on more meds (Arimidex) In hindsight if I had "done" chemo back in 2006 maybe the little sucker would have been eliminated. Who knows and I have no regrets about not having chemo. You just have to do what is right for you right now. Best wishes XLeonie
Hey Roxanne
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary clearance Dec 2011 and Jan 2012. I guess I was asked about a mastectomy but i don't remember much as all a blur. I do remember asking if I have a mastectomy can I have both breasts removed at the same time and was told a definite no by my surgeon at the time. I guess that is why I opted for lumpectomy. I had only 2 nodes involved but there wasn't a full clearance so I had chemo and rads.
I guess there is always the doubt in the back of your mind as to whether you should have gone mastecomy. I guess we go with what feels right at the time and then live in hope that BC should never return.
You have to look at it positively that you have done everything that you could to rid yourself of the cancer and then I gues we just move forward. It would be great if we could turn the clock back sometimes cause there is a lot of things in my life I would do different now. Lumpectomy may or may not have been one of those things I would have changed cause it is a tough choice to make.
I wish you a BC free and healthy rest of your life which is what I am hoping and working towards.
Lots of love, Mich xoxo
I've had both a lumpectomy(2003) and a mastectomy (2010) -same breast. After a lumpectomy,there is still an 8% chance that cancer could come back in that breast ,despite clear margins and radiation.I was in that unlucky 8% and 7 years later it came back.Look,all you can do is listen to your doctors and then go with what feels right for you at that time and have no regrets.No one knows the future and the odds are in your favour.Having a mastectomy scar is much more confronting on so many levels.There are positives and negatives for either surgery.The decision is difficult so don't second guess yourself.You may find it takes about 2 years to feel confident in your health again.
Tonya xx
